City of Secrets

by Victoria Thompson

  “You can’t possibly know that.”

  “And he’s related to a family of divines—that’s what you called them, isn’t it?—so presumably he knows how to act in polite company.”

  “We don’t even know for sure he’s related to anyone.”

  “For heaven’s sake, he’s not going to attack me in front of you and with an office full of other men ready to rush to my defense if I so much as cry out.”

  “I’m more concerned with what he might say.”

  “Probably nothing I haven’t already heard. I spent a good part of my youth at Dan the Dude’s Saloon with a bunch of grifters, Gideon.”

  Gideon rubbed his free hand over his face. “Why won’t you let me protect you?”

  “You can protect me all you want from real dangers. This Matthew Honesdale is no threat to me. If he starts insulting me or being disrespectful, I’ll simply walk out. That’s what Priscilla would do, certainly, and no lady would endure it.”

  “All right, suppose I agree to this . . . this charade. What are you going to say to him?”

  Oh dear, he had her there. “I guess I was thinking we could see how he reacts and then just play along.”

  “What if he doesn’t react at all? What if he’s never heard of Priscilla Knight or Endicott Knight?”

  “Then we show him the photograph and ask him what he knows about that sort of thing.”

  “Dear heaven.”

  “He’s bound to know something, even if it’s just where people like that go.”

  “And even if he does, why would he tell us?”

  “He might take pity on a poor widow.”

  “If he has any respect for you at all, he won’t say a word!”

  “Gideon, I can make him tell us whatever he knows. I know you don’t like to think about it, but getting people to trust me and share their deepest secrets is something a grifter is trained to do. It’s something I’m trained to do, and I can do it well.”

  “You’re right, I don’t like to think about it, and I especially don’t like to see it.”

  “Not even when it’s for a good cause?”

  “Is this a good cause?”

  “Yes, it is.” She didn’t bother to hide her frustration with him. “Priscilla Knight is the only woman in your church besides Anna and your mother who treats me like an equal. I didn’t even meet her until she was in mourning, and I’ve only seen her at church and when your mother and I make condolence calls on her, but she has been unfailingly kind and welcoming to me. She is my friend, and I will not stand by and see her the victim of some unspeakable injustice if there’s something I can do to help.”

  “I—”

  “And furthermore, aren’t you required, as a Christian man, to look after widows and orphans? Priscilla has two defenseless daughters who will suffer for the rest of their lives unless we help them.”

  “You know I want to help Priscilla and her daughters. I also want to keep you safe.”

  “Then help me. I could probably find Matthew Honesdale on my own, but that hardly seems like a good idea.”

  “You wouldn’t dare!”

  Elizabeth smiled. “No, because I won’t have to if you help me.”

  She was sure he was grinding his teeth, but he said, “You’ll be heavily veiled.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’ll leave the instant he becomes abusive or insulting.”

  “Of course.”

  “Are you going to tell Priscilla anything?”

  “Nothing at all, at least not until we must, and I hope we never have to, because I’m sure we’ll convince the blackmailer to return her money. We just need to figure out a way to do it.”

  Gideon sighed, not gracious in defeat but at least resigned. “You realize that’s probably impossible.”

  “Yes,” she lied. Where money changing hands was concerned, nothing was really impossible.

  “All right. I’ll send you word when I’ve heard from this Matthew Honesdale, but don’t be disappointed if he completely ignores my request for a meeting.”

  “How could he when he thinks he might have inherited money unexpectedly? I don’t care who you are, that’s always good news.”

  * * *

  • • •

  “IS ANYTHING INTERESTING GOING ON IN THE WORLD?” GIDEON asked his mother that evening when he found her reading the newspaper in the parlor.

  “Oh yes,” she said with great enthusiasm. “Several members of the National Woman’s Party testified before the House Woman Suffrage Committee on Saturday. We’re hoping President Wilson will keep his promise to support a constitutional amendment.”

  “That’s good news, but I was thinking about the war.” She had been sitting in one of the chairs by the gas fire, and he took the one opposite her, holding out his hands to warm them.

  “Nothing much, I’m afraid. It seems like both armies are still just hunkering down and trying not to freeze to death in their trenches. I’m so grateful you were too old for the draft.”

  “Too old for the first draft,” he reminded her. “I’m sure there will be others before this is over.”

  “Don’t say that. Now that we’ve got American boys over there, surely they’ll make an end to it quickly.”

  “We don’t have many American boys over there yet.”

  “It won’t be long before we do. We’ve been in it since last April.”

  “But we didn’t get our first troops over until just before Christmas.”

  His mother sighed and let the newspaper slide to the floor. “Let’s talk about something more pleasant. Did you enjoy the salon last night?”

  “I don’t think I could claim that.”

  His mother smiled at that. “I’m sure you enjoyed seeing Elizabeth.”

  “Of course, although we never get much opportunity to even speak to each other with so many other people around. Mr. Miles was there last night, too.”

  His mother brightened instantly. “Was he? He’s such a delightful man.”

  “Delightful” was not a word Gideon would have used to describe his future father-in-law, and he frowned his disapproval. “He . . . he sends his regards.”

  “We should have him for dinner.”

  Gideon made no comment at all to that.

  He picked up the newspaper she had dropped, and she gave him a few minutes to glance over it before she said, “Did Elizabeth tell you about our visit with Priscilla Knight on Sunday?”

  Gideon froze. He and Elizabeth had agreed not to tell Priscilla of their plans, but they hadn’t even thought about what to tell his mother. He folded the newspaper up very carefully, and when he was finished, he said, “I know all about it, Mother. Elizabeth came to see me yesterday after she went through Endicott Knight’s papers.”

  “Did she find something then? Something that will help Priscilla?”

  He couldn’t think of any reason not to tell her. He knew she could keep a confidence, and she’d never hurt one of her friends. He would just have to censor the more salacious details. “She found out that Knight was being blackmailed.”

  “Blackmailed? What on earth for?”

  “Let’s just say his behavior wasn’t all we have come to expect from a church elder. Someone apparently found out, someone with even fewer scruples than Knight, and was blackmailing him.”

  “So that’s why . . . Oh dear, did he really spend all of Priscilla’s money on blackmail?”

  “Hers and all of his before he married her. In fact, that seems to be why he married her.”

  “To get access to her funds? How despicable!”

  “Exactly.”

  “How could anyone do such a thing? I mean, I can understand he did something of which he was ashamed. I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me what it was.”

  “Absolutely not.
”

  “So it was heinous indeed, and naturally, he’d want to keep it a secret, but to drag an innocent woman into it, and her children, too. Those poor little girls.”

  “Elizabeth hasn’t told Priscilla about the blackmail yet, so don’t say anything.”

  “But she’ll have to know eventually, won’t she? If only to explain what happened to her money.”

  Gideon carefully considered his reply. Should he tell her what he and Elizabeth had discussed? It seemed cruel to give her hope when they really had no plan at all for getting Priscilla’s money back. No real plan at least, and probably no real hope, either. But if he needed an ally to help keep Elizabeth from putting herself in danger, his mother would be perfect for the task. She couldn’t help if she didn’t know, though, so he said, “Elizabeth thinks if we can find the blackmailer, we might be able to get at least some of Priscilla’s money back.”

  “Good heavens. I don’t know much about blackmail, but it seems unlikely someone like that would be so generous.”

  “I didn’t say they’d give it back. I said we’d get it back.”

  “How?”

  “We’re, uh, not sure yet.”

  Unfortunately, he wasn’t quite able to meet his mother’s eye, which made her suspicious. “Gideon?”

  “We have no plan.” This was perfectly true.

  “And were you discussing this with Mr. Miles?”

  “He is aware of the situation, but I’m happy to say he is completely ignorant of the crime of blackmail and had no advice to offer.”

  “I see.”

  He was very much afraid she did, but he said, “Elizabeth has more faith in human nature than seems justified, I’m afraid. She seems to think the blackmailer can be persuaded to return some of the money if properly motivated.”

  “How does one properly motivate a blackmailer?”

  “Since I am also completely ignorant of the crime of blackmail, I don’t know at this point.”

  “Poor Priscilla. She will be devastated.” Plainly, she had no faith in Gideon’s ability to help her. They were agreed on that, at least.

  “I’m sure her friends will stand by her,” he said weakly.

  “I certainly will, although I’m not sure how much comfort that will be. Is there anything I can do in the meantime?”

  “Not that I know of, but promise me you will help if I have to convince Elizabeth she’s putting herself in danger.”

  His mother frowned. “I’m not sure your idea of danger and Elizabeth’s will agree. Her background is much different from yours, remember.”

  “That’s true, but now she’s one of us.” He gestured to indicate their house and their world.

  “Is she?”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I’m not sure Elizabeth will ever truly be ‘one of us.’”

  “Of course she will.”

  “Gideon, do you hear what you’re saying?”

  “Of course I do. Elizabeth has put her past behind her.”

  “Is that what you want her to do?”

  “I certainly don’t want her to keep cheating people.”

  “I can’t imagine that she will, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to change completely.”

  “I don’t want her to change completely.”

  “What do you want, then?”

  “I . . .” How had he gotten into this conversation? “I don’t want her to change at all.”

  “Of course you don’t. You love her because of who and what she is.”

  “But I do expect her to behave in a seemly manner and not put herself in danger.”

  “What, exactly, do you mean by ‘seemly’?”

  “Well . . .” He knew what he meant. He just wasn’t sure how to explain it. “She would conduct herself like a lady, I suppose.”

  “A lady like me, for instance?”

  “Yes, that’s it.” His mother was a perfect example.

  “Gideon, a few short weeks ago your perfect, ladylike mother was in jail.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “And being abused by guards and on a hunger strike. I was in a lot of danger.”

  “That was different.”

  “In what way?”

  “It was for a good cause, for women’s suffrage.”

  “And Elizabeth was with me.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “I’m sure Elizabeth has no intention of putting herself in danger for no reason.”

  “Of course not.”

  “She will also have no intention of becoming a simpering, bloodless society matron who spends her energies serving tea and spreading gossip, which I very much fear is what you have in mind for her.”

  “That . . . that’s not true,” he tried, although it stung to think how close she was to the mark. But Elizabeth could never be simpering or bloodless, could she? And it was a husband’s duty to protect his wife, after all.

  “I hope it’s not true, for your sake,” she said. “Because Elizabeth will never fit into that role, and if you try to force her, you will lose.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ELIZABETH HADN’T SLEPT WELL THE NIGHT BEFORE. SHE KEPT remembering her argument with Gideon in his office over how they could help Priscilla. They hadn’t actually been angry, of course, at least not at each other. And the argument had nothing to do with them personally or their relationship, and Gideon had been his usual self the evening before at the salon. He’d even discussed the situation with the Old Man, which she knew would have been difficult for him.

  But she still felt unsettled. Part of it was knowing that they really had no idea how to deal with a blackmailer, even if they managed to identify him. The other part was Gideon’s reaction to the situation. She appreciated his concern for her, but didn’t he know by now that she was no fragile society girl he had to shield from the slightest unpleasantness?

  But he certainly did know that. He’d not only seen but participated in a ruthless con that she’d helped organize. He also knew she’d done it to save her very life. She was used to danger. So why was he suddenly treating her as if he didn’t know any of that? Only one explanation made sense, but Elizabeth didn’t want to believe it, so she went to the only person who might be able to put her mind at ease.

  “Elizabeth, how lovely to see you,” Mrs. Bates said, greeting her with a welcoming smile and a hug when the maid had escorted her into the parlor. “I was hoping you’d come to tell me what you’d discovered at Priscilla’s house yesterday.”

  “Didn’t Gideon tell you?” Surely, he had.

  “Gideon told me what he thought was appropriate for me to hear,” she said, “but I know there must be much more. Come and sit down. I’ll ring for some tea.”

  When they were settled on a sofa and Mrs. Bates had rung for tea, Elizabeth said, “What did Gideon tell you?”

  “That Mr. Knight was being blackmailed. He wouldn’t tell me why, though.”

  “Of course he wouldn’t. It’s rather shocking.”

  “So I gathered. I didn’t bother to ask Gideon for details. He’d want to protect me from anything untoward, and I knew I’d eventually talk to you and you’d tell me everything.”

  “Perhaps not everything,” Elizabeth said, smiling weakly.

  “Good heavens, is it really so bad?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I found a photograph.”

  “Oh dear. Of Mr. Knight, I assume.”

  “Yes, of Mr. Knight and a . . . a woman. I’m not going to describe it to you, so don’t even ask.”

  “I wasn’t going to.”

  “All you need to know is that he would probably have done anything to keep his behavior a secret, which is why someone was able to bleed him dry.”

  “They took his blood?
” Mrs. Bates asked, horrified.

  “Oh dear, no, that’s just an expression,” Elizabeth explained quickly. “But they did take all his money, apparently. He didn’t have much left when he married Priscilla, and then he started using her money to pay the blackmail.”

  “That’s what Gideon said, but how . . . ? I mean, why . . . ? Oh, I’m not sure what I mean.”

  “I know. It’s astonishing, and it’s even more astonishing when you know how Priscilla came to marry Mr. Knight.”

  “And we know it wasn’t because she needed a husband to support her after Mr. Jenks died.”

  “No, it wasn’t. Tell me, how well do you know Reverend and Mrs. Honesdale?”

  “The Honesdales? I . . . I don’t know. I never thought about it. He’s been our pastor for about five years now, I think. His father is very well known in the city. The father’s church is enormous, and his parishioners are quite wealthy. They do a lot of good in the city.”

  “Are the people in your church happy with the son?”

  “I suppose. He delivers a decent sermon every week and visits the sick and does a lovely job at weddings and funerals, but . . . Well, now that you ask, he isn’t very sociable. Or rather, he isn’t with us. I suppose I assumed he has a circle of friends in the church with whom he does socialize and we just weren’t among them, but now that I’m thinking about it, I have no idea who that might be.”

  A tap on the door distracted them, and the maid carried in a tea tray. Mrs. Bates served them both.

  When they’d refreshed themselves, Elizabeth said, “And what about Mrs. Honesdale? What do you think of her?”

  “She’s always pleasant. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone criticize her more than the usual pettiness over her clothes and whatever. Every minister’s wife has to suffer that.”

  “But she’s not sociable, either.”

  “No, I don’t think she is. Of course, she’s new to the church. Newer than he is, at least.”

  “What do you mean she’s new?”

  “They haven’t been married very long. I’m not sure exactly how long, a year or perhaps two. Time goes so quickly, it’s hard to keep track of other people’s lives. But he wasn’t married when he came; I do know that. We were all surprised when it was announced, because no one had even met her before they married.”